Ohio Art Defeats Motion by Larami in Patent Infringement Case Involving A.R.M. 4000 XL Water Gun

Business Wire, July 14, 2003

Business Editors

BRYAN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2003

The Ohio Art Company (AMEX-OAR) announced today that it has prevailed against Larami Limited, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., in a patent infringement matter before the United States District Court in Camden, NJ. The Honorable Joseph E. Irenas found that Larami had not demonstrated that it was likely to succeed on the merits of its infringement claims. The court denied Larami's motion for a preliminary injunction in a case involving Ohio Art's A.R.M. 4000 XL(TM) water gun and two patents that relate to Larami's Super Soaker(R) water blasters.

"We were confident that there was no merit to the suit filed by Larami and we are very pleased that we have prevailed in this case," said Bill Killgallon, CEO of The Ohio Art Company. "The A.R.M. 4000 XL is our most exciting water product and is a huge hit among consumers - we are enthusiastic to continue selling this one-of-a-kind product."

"Although Hasbro has been successful in obtaining injunctions against other toy companies in the past, we are pleased that Ohio Art has defeated the motion and that sales of the A.R.M. will not be hindered," said Barbara L. Mullin, the partner at Woodcock Washburn who argued the case for Ohio Art.

Unlike the Super Soaker(R) line of products sold by Larami, the A.R.M. is a distinctive, robotic-like, one-arm operating water gun that is strapped to a consumer's arm. When the consumer pumps their bicep, water is drawn from a water backpack into a water biceptor that contracts to push water out of the gun when the trigger is pulled. The A.R.M.'s revolutionary one-arm, pump-and-shoot robotic design is unique and the A.R.M. was named one of the Hot Dozen Toys of 2003 by Toy Wishes magazine.

Established in 1908 and headquartered in Bryan, Ohio, The Ohio Art Company is one of the world's best-known toy companies and creator of the famous Etch A Sketch(R) drawing toy and the Betty Spaghetty(R) fashion doll.

Woodcock Washburn LLP, with offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Seattle, Washington, has built a wealth of experience in patent, trademark and copyright law, litigation and trade secret protection for more than 60 years. The firm's lawyers and scientific advisors service national and international clients, offering their expertise in biotechnology, chemistry, and chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering, and software.